23 comments:

Anonymous
said...

This is really revolting. The idea that after a month of some of the most pro-Conservative biased reporting I've ever seen, Duffy gets a senate appointment - seems pretty audacious - and it takes a lot to surprise me.

Apart from that, the appointments look like a rogues gallery of Tory bagmen (incidentally Harper appointed 13 men and just 5 women) and hacks who have no qualification of any kind other than service to the Conservative party.

Mind you when the Liberals were in power they appointed their share of revolting hacks as well - including Chretien appointing Jim Munson to the Senate after he served the liberals with years of favourable reporting at CTV as well.

Can anyone tell me why the senate serves any purpose of any kind when its really just way to have tax payers pay gigantic salaries forever to people whose only qualification is partisan service?

Well with Munson he was let go by CTV in 2001 and then two years later he was appointed to the Senate.

The Puffy one was announcing Conservative friendly reports on TV, almost campaigning for the job right until his appointment... Well, we can complain about it directly to the Puffy one soon via the following list.

Duffy was/is and has been Harper's biggest cheer leader...he is as anti-liberl as they get. Watching him interview the liberal mps / potential leadership candidates he was always aiming to trap them...when conservatives mp's were on he would the give them soft questions and never question their comments or their facts they spewed. Harper two elections ago stated that he would be kept in check by the senate and judges ..seems like he is getting rid of the fist check and we will see more consevative appointed judges as time passes to allow harper to pass his agenda. Funny enough Bush said this week that the U.S. had moved to a centre right country that was the same line that harper had used during the election this october.

I always thought Liberals should have boycotted his show long ago. I just HOPE, one Liberal is ballsy enough to mention his appointment, or his bias.

It really is a disgrace when you think about it, that Harper searches for hacks and comes up with a supposed neutral commentator. Rather than excitement, CTV should be ashamed that their coverage was so unfair, it resulted in a patronage appointment.

Steve, the problem with boycotting CTV or a major CTV spokesman like Duffy is that there are so few major broadcasters in this country. The Libs would basically be eliminating a third of their television outreach. Plus CTV still has an audience of many centrist voters.

Dems like Obama could get away with boycotting Fox because they still had at least four other major networks to choose from.

I hear you, but a show like Duffy's wasn't widely viewed, outside of the political junkie class. When you factor in biased coverage, regardless of whether they attend or not, I would have just said forget it and let the bias breathe, rather than giving the pretense that all sides had a fair airing. What would the Liberals have to lose? A show like that needs guests, as much as the guests need him.

It will be tough for Liberals to criticize with three journalists in the senate themseleves.

Interesting that Harper made no move to help John Tory. Maybe this will spark a Danny Williams-style fight between Tory and the Bill Davis camp of the Ont PCs and Harper's hardline neo-Cons. Fingers crossed.

"Apart from that, the appointments look like a rogues gallery of Tory bagmen (incidentally Harper appointed 13 men and just 5 women) and hacks who have no qualification of any kind other than service to the Conservative party."

Not that it I'm excusing the appointments (although there ARE some qualified persons among the list of appointees), but "hacks who have no qualification other than service to X party" is a tagline that could describe...well, pretty much ANY senator.

Well summed up Steve - don't forget the $100 million that went to the Asper museum in Winnipeg that was quietly initiated last week, and the guaranteed $22 million annually that will go to its operation. I would assume that whoever replaces Duff will be equally obsequious and obedient to bossman. I think you can safely say that CTV's good will has been secured. I have been appalled to see the Liberals endorse the Duffy show in those silly little ads. Ignatieff should put an end to that.

No surprises here either about CTV, Duffy, Harper and the rest of them. Its what we have been saying all along -- there has never been a PM as partisan as Harper. What's more troubling though, is the appointment of Cromwell to the Supreme Court.

Another stellar day of flip flops for Harpo. First, he goes back on his promise to have public hearings for SC judges. Second, he appoints a person who fought to breakup the country, I bet Parizeau is happy today.

You are right Steve, his (daily) littany of flip-flops is starting to have an effect (on me at least) that none of it surprises me anymore. In fact, I expect this kind of stuff from him now, and I dont think there is any hypocritical, undemocratic new low that he is incapable of if given enough time and power.

No am I correct or what? Lets see. Harper tries to end the $1.95 for all political parties that he clains is to save tax payers money & then he goes ahead and appoints 18 senaters paying them a wage of $130.00 per year when he said he was trying to trim the coffers. Isn't that just sweet now. Anyone trust this political freak still? This idiot just makes me so mad I wouldn't mind throwing my shoes at him either.It would be my sign of showing how much I disrespect I have for this clown. Marie